Patents Examined by Gene Mancene
  • Patent number: 6941590
    Abstract: An improved toilet system affording upgraded hygienic environment by attachment of a multi-purpose hand held sprayer and addition of new features on the existing toilet system are provided. The multi-purpose hand held sprayer that incorporates a manual shut-off valve delivers various patterns of water spray via an extension bar and a spray tip, which further employs a flexible hose, a valve to regulate the flow, a Y-adapter assembly to supply water from an existing plumbing fixture, a hose hanger mounted on the existing toilet fasteners, a holder for placing the sprayer, and a holder for placing lavatory items. The new features include an improved toilet seat having an additional opening with guidelines and an embedded fortifying element at the frontal area for facilitating placement of the sprayer, a toilet bowl having the same guidelines, and an improved water tank together with its lid having cutouts at the edges and holes on the side wall for mounting the holders.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 5, 2004
    Date of Patent: September 13, 2005
    Inventor: Howard Tak Su Lim
  • Patent number: 6942161
    Abstract: A painting machine includes a powder paint spray gun, a mixer for mixing a plurality of powder paints having different colors, and a control device controlling an amount of each powder paint supplied to the powder paint spray gun so that a mixing ratio of the powder paints is continuously changed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 26, 2001
    Date of Patent: September 13, 2005
    Assignee: Asahi Sunac Corporation
    Inventor: Tetsuya Shimada
  • Patent number: 6938837
    Abstract: A faucet spray head includes a diverter valve that has a diverter stem constructed and arranged to control water flow patterns. The stem includes a neck and a head that is larger than the neck. A shell encloses the diverter valve, and the shell has an opening through which the stem extends. A pivot member is coupled to the shell, and a rocker arm is pivotally coupled to the pivot member. The rocker arm has a retention opening, and the retention opening is adapted to slidably receive and retain the head of the stem during assembly of the rocker arm to the pivot member. The rocker arm is attached to the diverter valve in order to actuate the valve. The spray head includes lock pins that are configured to engage a lock insert that is secured to a spout.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 23, 2003
    Date of Patent: September 6, 2005
    Assignee: Masco Corporation of Indiana
    Inventors: Alfred C. Nelson, Jeffrey L. Moore
  • Patent number: 6938796
    Abstract: A device for dispensing metered dosages of a substance from a container includes a dispenser housing and an indicating device. The indicating device includes an indicator housing, at least one engagement member disposed in the indicator housing, a plurality of indicator members coaxially mounted in the indicator housing, and an actuator coupled to and moveable with the container relative to the plurality of indicator members and the dispenser housing. The actuator member is selectively engaged with at least one of indicator members and is operative to advance the at least one indicator member an incremental amount. The at least one engagement member is selectively engaged with an advancement member so as to bias the advancement member into operable engagement with at least one of the indicator members and move the at least one indicator member an incremental amount. A method for dispensing metered dosages of the substance is also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 18, 2003
    Date of Patent: September 6, 2005
    Assignee: 1263152 Ontario Inc.
    Inventors: Richard Blacker, Daniel K. Engelbreth, James N. Schmidt
  • Patent number: 6929241
    Abstract: This invention relates to a hydraulic valve (10) and an interconnected hydraulic valve system, (10, 12). Two coaxially disposed pipes (14, 20) are positioned vertically to form an annular space (11) there between. A flange (22) provided with a external seal (23) cooperates with an end of the outer pipe (20). Openings (18) formed in the inner pipe (14) regulates water flow. The inner pipe is also sealingly interconnected with a main supply pipe (12) for entry of water through opening (16). An electrical motorized hoist (26) provides for activation and operation of the hydraulic valve system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 17, 2002
    Date of Patent: August 16, 2005
    Inventor: Rufus M. Holloway, Jr.
  • Patent number: 6929192
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a valve for controlling fluids, in particular a fuel injection valve, which has a valve member (3) disposed in a housing (11) for opening or closing a communication with a downstream chamber (18). An actuating element (2) is provided for actuating the valve member (3). The valve member (3) is prestressed in a prestressing direction by means of a prestressing element (10). The valve member (3) is also in communication with a sensor element (9), for picking up pressure information from the chamber (18) downstream of the valve member. The sensor element (9) can be provided as a separate component, or in an especially preferred embodiment, the actuating element is simultaneously used as the sensor element as well.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 2002
    Date of Patent: August 16, 2005
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventor: Till Schmauser
  • Patent number: 6923344
    Abstract: An easy and quantitative liquid dispenser is disclosed. The dispenser includes a regulator cock, an upper cover and a container. The container has a cylinder mounted on a bottom thereof, the cylinder is connected with the container, and a closure is mounted between the container and the cylinder. The upper cover has an outlet properly mounted thereon, a safety cover is connected to the upper cover through a rim of the upper cover and is covered on the outlet, and furthermore, a guiding pillar is downwardly extended from a bottom of the upper cover. The regulator cock is a plate which has a pillar extended from a bottom thereof, a circular prominence is mounted on a bottom end of the pillar, and a guiding hole is centrally penetrated through the pillar and the plate. After assembling the components above, the quantitative liquid dispenser according to the present invention can be formed so as to accurately measure and pour out the liquid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 14, 2004
    Date of Patent: August 2, 2005
    Assignee: Tops Equipment & Tools Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Yen-Liang Chien
  • Patent number: 6918551
    Abstract: A coating material dispensing system including a coating dispenser having a terminal for coupling to a high-magnitude potential supply, supply valves having respective input ports, respective output ports, and respective control ports, first purge valves having respective input ports, respective output ports, and respective control ports, a second purge valve having an input port, an output port and a control port, and means for coupling: the output port of a first one of the supply valves to a common point in a fluid circuit; the output port of a second one of the supply valves to the common point; the output port of the second purge valve to the common point; and, the common point to the coating dispenser, the common point also coupled to ground.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 17, 2003
    Date of Patent: July 19, 2005
    Assignee: Illinois Tool Works Inc.
    Inventor: James P. Baltz
  • Patent number: 6913167
    Abstract: An apparatus for preserving and dispensing wine or champagne. The apparatus provides a housing having a container support for holding wine or champagne bottles, a plurality of removable stoppers for insertion in the bottles, a nitrogen generator for generating a nitrogen rich gas from air, a nitrogen storage tank for storing the generated nitrogen rich gas, a cooling system for cooling certain bottles and dispensers for providing wine or champagne from the bottles to a user. The nitrogen generator draws in ambient air, adsorbs the oxygen from the air and stores nitrogen rich gas in the nitrogen storage tank. The nitrogen storage tank supplies the nitrogen rich gas to the bottles for preserving the wine or champagne. The stoppers include a nitrogen line and a supply line. The nitrogen line communicates nitrogen rich gas into the bottles and the supply line communicates wine or champagne from the bottles to the dispensers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 16, 2003
    Date of Patent: July 5, 2005
    Assignee: Vin Valet, Inc.
    Inventors: Johne Phelps, Daniel N. O'Connor, Robert R. Deller, Justin R. Lydon, Timothy C. McGuire
  • Patent number: 6910602
    Abstract: A container valve, attached to a gas container, wherein the container valve has a pressure reducing function, and is inside a valve block in the gas container. In the valve block, the container valve comprises a gas filling passage in which a filling valve is installed, a gas lead-out passage in which a lead-out valve is installed, and a pressure regulator arranged at an upstream side of the lead-out valve in the gas lead-out passage. The container valve can safely supply gas under a reduced pressure for use by opening the container valve of a container whose pressure is high and gas can be filled easily into the container. The container valve can be miniaturized and the purging operation for supplying high purity gas can be performed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 26, 2002
    Date of Patent: June 28, 2005
    Assignees: Taiyo Nippon Sanso Corporation, Hamai Industries Limited
    Inventors: Satoshi Hasaka, Yutaka Horiuchi, Masao Koizumi
  • Patent number: 6908015
    Abstract: A personal hydration system with component connectivity. The hydration system includes a fluid reservoir that may be housed within a pack. Drink fluid is drawn from the reservoir through a drink tube in fluid communication with the reservoir at one end and with a mouthpiece at the other. In some embodiments, the hydration system includes a manually actuated on/off valve downstream from the reservoir and/or a bite-actuated mouthpiece. The hydration system further includes a quick-connect assembly that fluidly interconnects components of the hydration system and which is configured to quickly release, and permit reattachment of, the detached or replacement components. In some embodiments, the hydration system includes a quick-connect assembly that is adapted to selectively couple a bite-actuated mouthpiece and a gas mask adapter to the hydration system's drink tube. In some embodiments, at least a portion, if not the entire, hydration system is formed from a chemically resistant material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 7, 2002
    Date of Patent: June 21, 2005
    Assignee: CamelBak Products, LLC
    Inventors: Robert Choi, Herbert Douglas, Barley A. Forsman, Jeremy Galten
  • Patent number: 6896161
    Abstract: A closeable dispensing device for dispensing a liquid, viscous or pasty medium contained in a container has a first opening for dispensing the medium located in the container, a second opening for ventilating and/or venting the container, and a closure device which can be actuated in order to produce and break a connection between the first opening and the container and between the second opening and the container. The dispensing device described is distinguished in that the closure device is designed such that, when actuated as is required in order to produce a connection between the first opening and the container, it first of all produces a connection between the second opening and the container and only then produces the connection between the first opening and the container. Such a dispensing device is straightforward to use and, nevertheless, cannot under any circumstances open of its own accord.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 15, 2003
    Date of Patent: May 24, 2005
    Assignee: BMF GmbH
    Inventor: Werner Pätz
  • Patent number: 6896211
    Abstract: A bell cup includes an interior defined by an axially rearward metal back region, an axially forward metal discharge edge, and a metal side region extending from the back region toward the discharge edge and terminating at the discharge edge. The back region includes a port having a forward end through which coating material to be atomized is supplied to the interior, and a metal intermediate portion between the forward end and the side region. The intermediate portion is oriented axially further away from the discharge edge than the forward end is axially from the discharge edge.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 28, 2002
    Date of Patent: May 24, 2005
    Assignee: Illinois Tool Works Inc.
    Inventor: David M. Seitz
  • Patent number: 6896066
    Abstract: A sprinkler apparatus is provided. The apparatus comprises a sprinkler head and a sprinkler head controller. The sprinkler head has a heater and a thermal fuse, the heater is configured to generate first and second heat based on first and second currents. The thermal fuse melts by the second heat, and the sprinkler head is configured to discharge an extinguishing liquid therethrough in response to the melting of the thermal fuse. The sprinkler head controller is connected to the sprinkler head, and is configured to provide the first current to the heater and detect the amount of current flowing through the heater, and diagnose the status of the sprinkler head based on the detected current.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 22, 2001
    Date of Patent: May 24, 2005
    Inventor: Jong Jin Gil
  • Patent number: 6896194
    Abstract: A method of producing fuel injectors for internal combustion engines provides for establishing a working life of each injector conforming with the working life of the internal combustion engine on which it is installed. Each injector has an injector body having a seat; a valve body housed inside the seat so as to form an annular chamber, for receiving high-pressure fuel, and a gap communicating with the annular chamber; and a seal housed inside the annular chamber to seal the gap. The seal is sized as a function of the permanent deformation to which the seal is subjected during use of the injector, so as to achieve a working life of the injector substantially equal to the working life of the engine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 2001
    Date of Patent: May 24, 2005
    Assignee: C.R.F. Societa Consortile per Azioni
    Inventor: Mario Ricco
  • Patent number: 6896160
    Abstract: A disc top dispensing closure which includes a body having an opening and an actuator having a channel mounted to the closure body. The actuator is pivotable between an open position, wherein the channel and the opening of the body form a continuous fluid path, and a closed position, wherein the channel and the opening of the body do not form a continuous fluid path. The actuator is also rotatable between a locked position, wherein the actuator is not movable between the open and the closed position, and an unlocked position, wherein the actuator is movable between the open and the closed position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 2002
    Date of Patent: May 24, 2005
    Assignee: Poly-Seal Corporation
    Inventors: Brett Kaufman, John Tauber, Frank Cassidy
  • Patent number: 6892906
    Abstract: A container including a nozzle and body depending therefrom. The body is preferably tubular and defines an interior which retains a product to be dispensed. A cap engages the nozzle to prevent inadvertent release of the product. In order to dispense the product, the cap is removed and pressure is applied to the body and the nozzle allows release of the product. The nozzle releases the product without exposing the remaining product to the external atmosphere, thus the sterility of the interior of the body is maintained and the shelf life of the product is increased. The nozzle includes an inner body, coupled to the tubular body, surrounded by a flexible outer cover. A seam between the inner body and flexible outer cover forms a one-way release valve wherein a portion of the seam remains closed during dispensing the product.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 13, 2003
    Date of Patent: May 17, 2005
    Assignee: Medical Instill Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Daniel Py, Norbert M. Assion, Julian V. Chan
  • Patent number: 6889877
    Abstract: The present invention concerns embodiments of a portable fluid-transporting system for mounting on a land-driven vehicle, such as a loader, and methods for their use. In an illustrated embodiment, a fluid-transporting device includes at least one fluid container, or tank, that is mountable to and completely removable from a vehicle. The container is configured to be carried by the vehicle such that at least a portion of the container is supported in front of the forward end of the vehicle. In particular embodiments, the container is generally U-shaped and includes a forward-container portion and first and second side-container portions extending from respective ends of the forward-container portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 30, 2003
    Date of Patent: May 10, 2005
    Inventor: Stephen P. Bieker
  • Patent number: 6886612
    Abstract: There is provided a method of transferring a defined quantity of powder comprising compacting a target area of powder; dipping a tube into the compacted target area of powder to fill the tube with a defined volume of powder; and transferring the defined volume of powder from the tube.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 2001
    Date of Patent: May 3, 2005
    Assignee: SmithKline Beecham Corporation
    Inventor: Howard Peter Duffield
  • Patent number: 6883685
    Abstract: A beverage dispensing apparatus includes a dispensing device, at least one valve that distributes a diluent, at least one solenoid for controlling the valve, a concentrate pump that distributes concentrate, a support structure that supports the foregoing components, and exterior cladding attached to the support structure. The exterior cladding provides the appearance of a real leaf tea brewer and the solenoid is of a quiet-type to minimize noise to a level like that in a real leaf tea brewer during dispensing. The diluent valve and concentrate pump distribute the diluent and concentrate into the dispensing device to form a mixture to be dispensed therefrom.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 19, 2002
    Date of Patent: April 26, 2005
    Assignee: PepsiCo, Inc.
    Inventors: Brian C. Jones, Allen L. Rogala